Brooklyn, queens, anywhere near the subway is good, get a few roommates and you find each paying 400-500 a month if you look hard enough.

Which is cheaper?

just went hunting for apts with friend, broker showed a rather large one bedroom apt, can fit two or three ppl in comfort, only 900 a month. area was a few blocks east of church ave, along the prospect expressway street. large apt building that looks 80 years old at least.

well I just went back to the apartment in Queens today to visit the roommate and also to look around the neighborhood. I found out there is no a/c in the apartment, but it also was not hot in there at all, so i dont know how much that matters considering that the summer is almost over. I also have to furnish my bedroom in this apartment which i'm excited to do, but it's expensive to do. I also have to get a new job because the one I have is too far of a commute. and I still feel weird about taking a subway so late. oh aaaaand I have to pay a $1500 deposit on the apartment along with first months rent...that's a lot of money. And the rent really isn't all that much cheaper than the rent in manhattan...it's about $820 a month, whereas i'd be paying around $1000 in manhattan. So I WAS leaning towards Queens, but now I feel confused again.

Of course we can't see it or feel the "vibe" or know how late you work and how often you'll be taking the subway from Manhattan to Queens after you get off work at, what, 2am?.... Another thing to consider. I mean, I took the subway from midtown to Brooklyn many a late night and was always fine, but I suppose I would have preferred to just walk a couple blocks. The couch idea may also allow other opportunities to crop up.
Another thing to ponder--who would you REALLY rather live with? That's huge.

I'd stay in your current situation and not worry about Queens. You're not paying anything now, right? I'd use this time to get settled with work, start banking some cash, and figure out what the situation is looking like at your current place within the next month. I know you want to get an actual bedroom, but see what happens at the current pad soon and see if you can actually live there- and if you'd want to.

Why not look around for another place in Morningside Heights, UWS, Wash. Heights, Inwood, maybe W. Harlem even. The 1 is always a quick line to commute on.
This isn't the only apartment you'll find, there will be more gems out there and they might be even better deals.

You may want to look at sections of Brooklyn- Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, Park Slope.

And congrats on your journey thus far!

Oh my gosh, GMM, I feel like you read my mind. This morning i talked with my mom and we decided pretty much exactly what you just said

I told the girls here that I'm going to stay for the rest of this month until whenever. I didn't commit to moving in when my friend leaves. I also told the girl in Queens that I'd have to pass. This really is the best situation for me because I have the chance to get settled with my job, save some money, and look for apartments on my own time with no pressure or deadlines. The girls asked me to pay $500 a month just to help them out. I think that's fair. the girl leaving in November just quit her job today and they've been so kind and helpful to me, it's a great trade off. Even though it's going to be three deep for a few months, I feel a lot better knowing that I don't have to immediately pay a hefty deposit or sign a lease here and i still get the perks of being in the city.

I just want to thank everyone for all of your help. It means so much to me that you've all taken the time to give me advice. I sincerely appreciate it. I feel so much better about things!

quote:

Originally posted by gmm:
I'd stay in your current situation and not worry about Queens.

You may want to look at sections of Brooklyn- Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, Park Slope.

I definitely agree with this advice about staying where you are. Also, if you are concerned about the commute and you have a chance to live on the UWS, you won't be happy in Brooklyn either.

FYI Apartments in the Brooklyn neighborhoods mentioned are the same or only slightly cheaper than what you will have now.

Just on a side note, perhaps I'll make another thread for this--people's fave neighborhoods, but I LOVED living in Park Slope.

Hi everyone

It's been a while since I've come on the message board. I'm not in the best state of mind and I was hoping for some direction and encouragement. I was working at a restaurant but I quit because I hated it soooooooooooo much. It's seriously not for me. I've been working with Atrium Staffing since then, but not making any money AT ALL. The third roommate moved out 2 months early and i got stuck with having to pay the full rent...but I don't have the money. I still haven't saved money to get headshots, haven't gone on any auditions, and my boyfriend just broke-up with me because he couldn't do the whole long distance thing. I've been told by my parents to keep a positive attitude and to remember that right now I'm "paying my dues" just like everyone else who calls themselves an artist. I'm considering moving back home..climbing in my bed and staying there forever, unless anyone can suggest a better alternative.

Oh sweetie!
First, I am confused why you are stuck paying all the rent? Wasn't there another roomate involved too--shouldn't you be splitting?
Keep looking for temp companies--there are lots and some better than others. Try Norrell--I liked them when I was there--and there are tons of others. Do you have any friends in NY yet? You need some friendly faces!

I suggest you get on finding an acting class ASAP so you can meet some kindred spirits! It will boost you and remind you why you are in NY! Good luck!!

Are your parents willing to help you out at all? Could they lend you some money to get headshots? If they are willing to do that, I think that would be good. If not, start looking for another job. Maybe you'd like retail better? I dunno, I just think you have to find some type of job and stick it out for a while. If you can bear through it and save up a bit of money, that sounds like a better situation.

As for the apartment, I think it would be better to move out ASAP. It doesn't sound like you're too happy about that situation. It seems like you could find something a lot cheaper if you got a room in a house or something. You don't want to be paying a rent you can't afford, and it seems rather unfair to make you pay it all this early when you were expecting the time to save money.

Good luck!

I tried so hard to tell you. I too had to learn the hard way and have had to leave LA for a while to save up more $$$. Sounds like the best bet sweetie. If you are miserable, broke and cannot afford the business, for now there is no point struggling out there. Move back and save up $$$. You sound young (a good thing) which mean there is no rush. Take the time to get it right. You want to enjoy the ride and it doesn't sound like you are. You think I wanted to move back? Noooooo. It sucks and I was a few years in the biz and really making progress but the $$$ ran out. Save up and go back. Work two jobs if you have to. Spend money on nothing if you don't absolutely need it. Sacrifice anything you have to if this is what you really and absolutely MUST DO. And don't feel you are quitting by moving back for a while - life just takes us on a little ride every now and then but it's up to us to do what we can on that ride and better prepare ourselves for when we do get to where we want to be. I actually embraced my move back home as I got excited as I now know what to expect and can really better prepare myself by saving, now knowing the area, the parking and traffic situation etc. I know that when I get back next year with a big chunk of change in my pocket, it will make all the difference and then I can really get to work making my dreams happen without WORRYING ABOUT MY FINANCES so much it kills the joys I will experience with my work, my art, my passion- this thing I adore and that consumes me called ACTING. Remember- WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but….
This is a terrible time for temping. Really. Until the economy picks up, don’t expect the temp agencies to have many assignments. I am working p/t now and if I didn’t have that, I’d be stuck. My agencies have not had any work and I’m registered with a few. And if I can’t get the work, and I’ve been working with them a long time, then I really doubt a new person could do any better.

With your roommate moving out….did you consider getting someone in to sublet? There are still a lot of people who need apartments and you might have been able to find someone thru Craigslist.That's how we found our last roommate in my apt - through Craigs. You just have to be careful, trust your instincts, interview someone closely, make sure you're finding someone considerate and responsible, make sure they pay a hefty deposit before they move in, etc.


SparklingEyes – don’t give up, justremember that times are tough right now (It will get better!) and a lot of us are in the same boat. I would recommend getting another restaurant job if you can, they might be doing more hiring than the offices. I mean , if you hate restaurants, then find something else to do, but maybe you could just try a different restaurant.

Stay strong!

"Save up and go back. Work two jobs if you have to. Spend money on nothing if you don't absolutely need it. Sacrifice anything you have to if this is what you really and absolutely MUST DO. And don't feel you are quitting by moving back for a while - life just takes us on a little ride every now and then but it's up to us to do what we can on that ride and better prepare ourselves for when we do get to where we want to be. I actually embraced my move back home as I got excited as I now know what to expect and can really better prepare myself by saving, now knowing the area, the parking and traffic situation etc. I know that when I get back next year with a big chunk of change in my pocket, it will make all the difference and then I can really get to work making my dreams happen without WORRYING ABOUT MY FINANCES so much it kills the joys I will experience with my work, my art, my passion- this thing I adore and that consumes me called ACTING. Remember- WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN."

Great advice – ITA. (I Totally Agree.)

P.S. No idea if they're hiring right now, but someone told me Kinko's pays fairly well. Not saying it's the most fun work...but a job's a job.